Some of Our Favorite Kids' Books

Family Fun in Massachusetts, Cape Ann Kids Summer Guide

Finding the right book for your kid can be a challenge but if you keep new ones coming, you may be on your way to raising a lifelong reader.

Here we've highlighted a few books for different ages - some exceptional titles could be the perfect thing to spark your kid's interest, introduce your reader to a new author, or rediscover an old favorite.

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by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, a hilarious picture book that warns of the dangers of serving dragons their favorite food topped with spicy salsa. It will make them breathe fire, and they could burn your house down. It's silly fun from start to finish, with dragons of every size, shape, and color and heaps and heaps of tacos on its entertaining spreads. This one could become a classic.

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This touching, sweet, beautiful kids book shows both kids and adults how to visit their dreams and make them come true through wonderful illustration and narration. A simple, great story that gives kids the freedom to have passion, ideas and dreams.

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About a young girl who finds a lost baby bear on Broadway in NYC who is looking for his mama. There are certain things you should do when you meet a bear in Manhattan and one of them is to stick your gloved hand out (after you "suck in your breath") and say, "Stop there, Little Bear!" The book will charm young kids because of the bear's infantlike talk when interacting with the little girl who has found him. "How does your mama sing, Little Bear?", she asks.  Little Bear responds, "Oh! Sings like mama!". The cuteness continues to the very end.

This is an adorable book that has a beautiful flow (Amy Hest), from the first past to the last. The illustration (Elivia Savadier) and whimsical watercolors are a treasure.

The book opens up the opportunity to discuss what your little one should do in case they ever lose their Mama when they are out in public and, of course, have that never ending discussion about "strangers." This is a quaint little story you and your little one are going to enjoy.

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This wonderful story, written by Mo Willems, that's easy to follow and is filled with beautiful watercolors depicting the story as it progresses through Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and into the following Spring.

City Dog's life changed when he made to the country and had a chance meeting with a frog in a pond.  Their friendship develops through the seasonal life cycle of the frog and eventually ends when winter arrives.  The dogs spends the winter thinking of his friend, and mourns his loss. The following Spring brings renewed spirit to the dog as he implements what he learned from the frog during the previous year. 

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The Harry books are great for language development because the names of the dinosaurs play a big role in the story line, plus there's a train. What could be better than dinosaurs and trains (ahem - Dinosaur Train)?

The underlying theme is that sometimes the best adventures don't necessarily require a brand new toy or game.  Sometimes the imagination just needs a little nudge by spending some quality time with something old and broken.  I can see myself using a Harry as a point of reference many times as we move forward with our own adventures into the future.

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Follow the mini stories of Officer Mike, Officer Jan and Officer Carl as they are dispatched to different emergencies by Sargent Santole.  By the end of the first reading, your child will have a baseline of facts about what police officers do, how to identify them and where to find them.  With colorful illustrations and repetitive rhyming story telling, this will quickly become a favorite with your little one.

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This is a book you read over and over and have great fun while doing it. With feathers flying and eyeballs popping, Pigeon is unflinching and hilarious in his determination to drive the bus. The genius of this book is that the very young will actually recognize themselves in it.

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Chicken Cheeks is sure to keep them laughing as all the different kinds of animal butts pile atop one another. From beginning to "end" this story is filled with visual jokes and amusing details. It helps to reinforce several concepts too including initial consonant sounds, rhyming pairs, and synonyms. This darling book is a must-have for any early elementary student.

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Little donkey on the hill, standing there so very still. Making faces at the skies, Little donkey close your eyes. A magical story from the hidden treasures of Margaret Wise Brown, perfect for sharing. This book is a marvelous bedtime story

Find these books online at Amazon or at one of the local bookstores here on the North Shore:

 

 

Camp Whirlygig for kids ages 4-10 at the Wenham Museum in Massachusetts

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Music Together - Friday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
10:30 am to 11:15 am

Cow Connection at Appleton Farms

Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for Cow Connection in Ipswich Massachusetts
Immerse your family in the heartwarming experience of being up close and personal with one of our favorite farm animals – cows! Cuddle, brush, and sit with our hand-raised cows at Appleton Farms. Visit our scenic and historic farm and enjoy Family Cow Connection session with our two Jersey Dairy...
4:15 pm to 5:00 pm

Saturday, May 31

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Sunday, June 1

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm